The Cost of living by the Word

The cost of living by the word

'The Bible is an extremely dangerous book'

Lest we take for granted our ready access to the Bible, Pope Francis reminds us that there are more Christians persecuted today in the world than in the early days of the Church. Their ‘crime’ is owning a Bible, wearing a cross, bearing witness to Jesus. To young people Pope Francis says:*

‘Does your Bible disappear on a shelf, collecting dust? It must not come to that.I’ll tell you something… The Bible is … a highly dangerous book—so dangerous that you are treated in some countries as if you were hiding hand grenadesin your closet. It was a non-Christian, Mahatma Gandhi, who once said: “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to…turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.”

‘So what do you have in your hands? A piece of literature? Some nice old stories? Then you would have to say to the many Christians who go to prison or are tortured because they own a Bible: “How foolish you are; it’s just a piece of literature!”

‘No. By the word of God has Light come into the world, and it will never go out…Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.’

“

Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me…

And immediately they left their nets and followed him.’

Mark 1:17-18

Are our students aware of the ‘cost of discipleship’ for many Christians in the world today?